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Psalm 38

A psalm of David, asking God to remember him.

O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your rage!
Your arrows have struck deep,
    and your blows are crushing me.
Because of your anger, my whole body is sick;
    my health is broken because of my sins.
My guilt overwhelms me—
    it is a burden too heavy to bear.
My wounds fester and stink
    because of my foolish sins.
I am bent over and racked with pain.
    All day long I walk around filled with grief.
A raging fever burns within me,
    and my health is broken.
I am exhausted and completely crushed.
    My groans come from an anguished heart.

You know what I long for, Lord;
    you hear my every sigh.
10 My heart beats wildly, my strength fails,
    and I am going blind.
11 My loved ones and friends stay away, fearing my disease.
    Even my own family stands at a distance.
12 Meanwhile, my enemies lay traps to kill me.
    Those who wish me harm make plans to ruin me.
    All day long they plan their treachery.

13 But I am deaf to all their threats.
    I am silent before them as one who cannot speak.
14 I choose to hear nothing,
    and I make no reply.
15 For I am waiting for you, O Lord.
    You must answer for me, O Lord my God.
16 I prayed, “Don’t let my enemies gloat over me
    or rejoice at my downfall.”

17 I am on the verge of collapse,
    facing constant pain.
18 But I confess my sins;
    I am deeply sorry for what I have done.
19 I have many aggressive enemies;
    they hate me without reason.
20 They repay me evil for good
    and oppose me for pursuing good.
21 Do not abandon me, O Lord.
    Do not stand at a distance, my God.
22 Come quickly to help me,
    O Lord my savior.

Psalm 38

A psalm of David. For the memorial offering.

38 Please, Lord, don’t punish me when you are mad;
    don’t discipline me when you are furious.
Your arrows have pierced me;
    your fist has come down hard on me.
There’s nothing in my body that isn’t broken
        because of your rage;
    there’s no health in my bones
        because of my sin.
My wrongdoings are stacked higher than my head;
    they are a weight that’s way too heavy for me.
My wounds reek; they are all infected
    because of my stupidity.
I am hunched over, completely down;
    I wander around all day long, sad.
My insides are burning up;
    there’s nothing in my body that isn’t broken.
I’m worn out, completely crushed;
    I groan because of my miserable heart.

Everything I long for is laid out before you, my Lord;
    my sighs aren’t hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds; my strength abandons me.
    Even the light of my eyes is gone.
11 My loved ones and friends keep their distance
        from me in my sickness;
    those who were near me now stay far away.
12 Those who want me dead lay traps;
    those who want me harmed utter threats,
        muttering lies all day long.
13 But I’m like someone who is deaf,
    who can’t hear;
    like someone who can’t speak,
    whose mouth won’t open.
14 I’ve become like a person
    who doesn’t hear what is being said,
    whose mouth has no good comeback.
15 But I wait for you, Lord!
    You will answer, my Lord, my God!
16 Because I prayed:
    “Don’t let them celebrate over me
    or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips,”
17 because I’m very close to falling,
    and my pain is always with me.
18 Yes, I confess my wrongdoing;
    I’m worried about my sin.
19 But my mortal enemies are so strong;
    those who hate me for no reason seem countless.
20 Those who give, repay good with evil;
    they oppose me for pursuing good.

21 Don’t leave me all alone, Lord!
    Please, my God, don’t be far from me!
22 Come quickly and help me,
    my Lord, my salvation!